After receiving abuse complaints against Msgr. Frederick R. Leising and Father Ronald P. Sajdak, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Msgr. Leising and Father Sajdak on administrative leave as an investigation continues.

After receiving an abuse complaint against Father Michael P. Juran, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Juran on administrative leave as an investigation continues.

Bishop Malone and the entire Diocese of Buffalo family would like to express the sympathy and prayers of the Catholic Community of Western New York after the horrific events in Pittsburgh yesterday.

The following is the statement Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo released to "60 Minutes" in advance of their upcoming story on the Diocese of Buffalo. The diocese also released it to the public.

After receiving an abuse complaint against Father Louis S. Dolinic, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Dolinic on administrative leave as an investigation continues.

Bishop Richard J. Malone will be the main celebrant and homilist at the annual Respect Life Mass on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 4 p.m. at St. Louis Church, 780 Main St., Buffalo. During the Mass, the bishop will commission the parish respect life coordinators.

At an Aug. 26 news conference, Bishop Richard J. Malone announced that the Diocese of Buffalo would establish a new Office of Professional Responsibility. Its mission would be to review the Diocesan Code of Conduct, strengthen it wherever necessary, and enforce it.

Yesterday afternoon, the diocese received a complaint against Father Joseph C. Gatto involving an alleged sexual advance made on an adult. Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Gatto on administrative leave as an investigation continues.

About 900 Catholic school educators in the Diocese of Buffalo will gather on Friday, Sept. 28, for an educators' convocation at Cardinal O'Hara High School, 39 O'Hara Road, Tonawanda. The biennial meeting will include teachers and administrators from all diocesan elementary and middle schools, which will be closed that day.

All are invited to join Bishop Richard J. Malone on Sunday, Sept. 30, at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, for a Holy Hour of Reparation and Healing at 3 p.m. All priests, deacons, consecrated religious and lay faithful are encouraged to attend.

After receiving an abuse complaint against Father Ronald B. Mierzwa, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Mierzwa on administrative leave as an investigation continues.

The Diocese of Buffalo is pleased to announce that it has hired Kathy Baranski Spangler as its director of Communications.

After receiving an abuse complaint against Father John J. Sardina, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Sardina on administrative leave as an investigation continues. This administrative leave is for the purpose of investigation and does not imply any determination as to the truth or falsity of the complaint.

Bishop Richard J. Malone delivered the following message to the faithful in the Diocese of Buffalo. His letter was read at Masses throughout the diocese on the weekend of September 8 and 9, 2018:

WASHINGTON—In his 2018 Labor Day statement, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, calls for all persons to work together for just wages, which are necessary for families to flourish. A just wage is one that "not only provides for workers' financial well-being, but fosters their social, cultural, and spiritual dimensions as individuals and members of society."

(Olean) — Local Roman Catholics heading to Mass after Labor Day weekend will need to re-think their normal routine. That's because a new Mass schedule goes into effect for three area Roman Catholic parishes—Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, St. John the Evangelist Church, and St. Philomena Church in Franklinville.

George Richert has decided to step down as diocesan Director of Communications, effective Friday, Sept. 7.

After receiving a new abuse complaint against Father Robert Yetter, Bishop Richard J. Malone has asked for and received the resignation of Father Yetter as pastor of St Mary's of Swormville. Father Yetter has also been placed on administrative leave as an investigation continues. Please note that this administrative leave is for the purpose of investigation and does not imply any determination as to the truth or falsity of the complaint.

On Sunday afternoon Bishop Richard J. Malone outlined new actions to handle cases of clerical sexual abuse against both children and adults.

The following is a statement from Bishop Richard J. Malone which was read to the faith community of St. Mary of Swormville:

Catholic Charities of Buffalo has begun the process to phase out current foster care and adoption services under a contract with the Erie County Department of Social Services (DSS). The contract is set to expire in March 2019.

WASHINGTON—Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has issued the following statement in response to Pope Francis's Letter to the People of God, issued earlier today. In his letter addressed to the whole People of God, the Pope calls on the Church to join in acts of prayer and fasting in "combatting all forms of abuse of power, sexual abuse and the abuse of conscience."

Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo released this statement pertaining to the Pennsylvania grand jury report: "The Diocese of Buffalo is committed to learning from the sins and crimes of the past and from the ways they were handled. I share in the sense of horror at the magnitude of damage wrought on victims by ministers of the church who, of all people, should be eminently trustworthy. It's a different church now in the way we respond to any claims of abuse."

The Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities today announced that they have signed a purchase and sale agreement (PSA) for the property known as St. Mary of the Angels in Williamsville to The Tzetzo Companies LLC of Buffalo. In addition to owning the property, Tzetzo will operate the region house as a New York State-licensed senior assisted living facility. The purchase price was not disclosed and final closing on the sale is not expected until sometime in November.

"As a body of bishops, we are shamed by and sorry for the sins and omissions by Catholic priests and Catholic Bishops," Says President of U.S. Bishops' Conference in Joint Statement with Committee Chairman for the Protection of Children and Young People

"The diversity of topics and ability to reach a broad audience and offer something for practically everyone are what makes this newspaper stand out." This is what the judges for the Catholic Press Association had to say about the Diocese of Buffalo's own Western New York Catholic. The paper won first place in the category of Newspaper of the Year for non-weekly diocesan newspaper with a circulation of 25,001 or more.

After receiving an abuse complaint against Msgr. John M. Ryan, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Msgr. Ryan on administrative leave as an investigation continues. Msgr. Ryan retired in 2001 from St. Benedict's Parish. Please note that this administrative leave is for the purpose of investigation and does not imply any determination as to the truth or falsity of the complaint.

WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, from the College of Cardinals.

An historical moment will take place on August 1 as Father Patrick Melfi will become the ninth resident pastor (in 142 years) and the second rector of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. Also starting on that day, a new linked configuration of three local parishes will take place, effectively joining under the leadership of shared clergy the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angles of Olean, St. John the Evangelist Church of Olean (where Father Melfi serves as pastor), and St. Philomena Church of Franklinville (where Father Melfi recently assumed pastorship). A new Mass schedule for all three parishes will be announced in the coming weeks and will commence effective the weekend after Labor Day.

On Wednesday evening, August 15th at 7:00 p.m. in the dining hall at Christ the King Seminary, Father Peter Drilling and Lutheran Pastors Tim Madsen and Daniel Hoffman will discuss and share about the 500th Commemoration of the Reformation and the ongoing Lutheran-Roman Catholic cooperative efforts.

WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is publishing a new document, Encountering Christ in Harmony: A Pastoral Response to Our Asian and Pacific Island Brothers and Sisters. The full text is available on the USCCB website at: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/cultural-diversity/asian-pacific-islander/upload/asian-and-pacific-island-pastoral-response-encountering-christ-in-harmony-2018.pdf .

WASHINGTON— Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), wrote to the members of the Senate on July 6, urging them not to use support for Roe v. Wade as a litmus test for judicial nominees in their deliberations about the upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court of the United States.

The Diocese of Buffalo has released the following update regarding priests placed on administrative leave:

As a result of continued enrollment reductions, growing financial challenges and a significant reduction in Diocesan support, Niagara Catholic High School on 66th Street, will close its doors, effective immediately.

Two local Catholic schools have announced a new scholarship opportunity intended to allow better access to private education. Through an unnamed donor, Saints Peter and Paul School, in Williamsville, and Southtowns Catholic School, in Lake View, will offer a partial scholarship to each of the first ten kindergarteners who qualify financially.

The Diocese of Buffalo released the following statement Friday pertaining to cutbacks affecting Daybreak TV Productions and the Fredonia Newman Center:

Three parish priests have received a third six-year term appointment by Bishop Richard J. Malone and two deacons have been given new assignments.

A veteran educator with a wealth of school administration experience has been appointed Superintendent of Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. Michael C. LaFever, Ed.D, president of St. Benedict School in Eggertsville, will assume the leadership of Catholic Schools in the diocese effective June 29, upon the retirement of Sister Carol Cimino, SSJ.

After receiving an abuse complaint against Rev. Mark J. Wolski, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Wolski on administrative leave as an investigation continues. Please note that this administrative leave is for the purpose of investigation and does not imply any determination as to the truth or falsity of the complaint.

Bishop Richard J. Malone will have the honor of ordaining four men to the priesthood on Saturday, June 2. The special Mass will begin at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo. Daybreak TV Productions, the television entity of the Diocese of Buffalo, will provide a livestream and replay of the ordination which can be viewed or shared on their YouTube channel @DaybreakTV.